For Angel Paredes, seeing his design on thousands of Cal Poly Pomona shirts demonstrates the progress he’s made since leaving prison and going into the reentry program.
“I’m glad I was able to contribute,” he said. “I think that’s what we’re here for in the program, to contribute to the community and give back. If I would have been locked up, it would have never happened.”
Paredes has been out of prison since April 2025 under the Male Community Reentry Program (MCRP). The pre-release program lets certain incarcerated persons finish their sentence in a structured community-based facility instead of prison.
Participants have access to substance use disorder treatment, employment readiness and vocational training, educational opportunities, connections to healthcare services and family reunification support. As they progress through the program, participants may become eligible for approved off-site passes to pursue employment or higher education.
Paredes said it’s been a meaningful opportunity for him. While in the program, he found a part-time job he balances with his classes at Cal Poly Pomona, where’s he’s pursuing a master’s degree.
But despite his higher education goals, he didn’t expect much when he saw the university’s art contest at the end of last year. He’d never entered a contest like this before, but he decided to give it a shot.
The shot he gave was a hand-drawn design, highlighting the university and equestrian culture.
Months later, he received an email saying he won. But he didn’t know how big of a win this was.
“I’ve made so much progress since I’ve been at MCRP. It’s really been a blessing for me.”
Angel Paredes, MCRP participant
Design offers sense of belonging, pride
While he knew he’d get $200 and his design printed on 7,000 shirts, it wasn’t fully clear until he arrived on campus. He saw a wave of incoming students wearing his design during the university’s Broncos Belong event.
“Every time I go to campus, I still see people with them on, and that’s pretty cool. It was like I was able to be a part of it, something that most of the students enjoyed, something that welcomed them to the college,” Paredes said.
This contest was his first formal competition. While in prison, he made artwork for events — including a tiger painting for a suicide awareness program — but a competition was new territory. But with the win and the sight of students wearing his design, he was left with a sense of pride.
“A lot of people were proud of me. I’m proud of myself. And right now, I’m in a good place,” he said.
Paredes is currently halfway through his master’s degree program in Business Administration. He earned his bachelor’s degree and did part of his master’s coursework through correspondence programs before transferring credits and continuing his MBA in person at Cal Poly Pomona.
“I’ve made so much progress since I’ve been at MCRP,” Paredes said. “It’s really been a blessing for me.”
Story by Eric Escalante, information officer
Office of Public and Employee Communications
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